Episode 58: ENCORE: Is There a Link Between Breast Implants and Cancer?

Foreign Dr. Rob Whitfield, the board certified plastic surgeon specializing in explant surgery Breast implant illness is a topic that is not often talked enough about, especially in medical community, but is something that affects many women. In this podcast I'll be discussing the latest research, treatment options and personal stories of women who have undergone explant surgery in an effort to heal breast implant illness. In this podcast we'll explore the symptoms of breast implant illness and delve into the latest surgical techniques for explantation and the recovery process. Whether you are currently experiencing breast implant illness or are considering explant surgery, this podcast is a valuable resource for anyone looking to take control of their health and wellness. So let's dive in. It's Dr. Whitfield. Thanks for joining me again on my breast Implant Illness podcast. Today we're going to discuss Is there a link between breast Implants and cancer? So we need to differentiate so is there a link between breast implants and breast cancer causing or hiding or delaying the diagnosis of breast cancer? This has been studied for long periods of time. In fact, when it's a small breast, thinner tissues and you have an implant in a retropectoral position or for that matter in a submammary position, you will potentially feel a cancer sooner because the actual implant is pressing the tissues out and so it'll be easier on self examination. We've seen that time and time again. There are different cancers that are associated with breast implants. Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma so this lymphoma develops as we look at it now and these textured implants have a very rough surface that was meant to help hold the implant in place, but it is supremely irritating to the tissues and this causes a T cell response which can ultimately lead to this lymphoma. And so that is one aspect of it. So lymphomas and this has been looked at and published in different journals going back to 2008. There is a study of the Netherlands where patients had textures, implants and development of lymphoma and then fast forward in the United States more and more diagnoses are made of anaplastic large cell lymphoma each year and there are some non ALCL lymphomas. I have one, it was a B cell lymphoma in a patient with a textured and then there's new entity called Breast implant associated squamous cell carcinoma, a rare tumor that doesn't Typically squamous cell carcinomas are found externally in what's called a marginal ulcer or a burns garca that's chronically irritated that then over time develops this but not internally. So that's an unusual finding to the root causes of why this is really happening. You know, we go back to what I say fundamentally causes breast implant illness, which is inflammation. And is it this inflammation that then directly is correlated to the development of these other cancers associated wrist implants? And you know, that aggravation or irritation and or inflammation in that pocket certainly seems to be the pathway that leads to the ALCL and these other lymphomas. And I don't understand, as I mentioned, how the squamous cell carcinoma, which is an epithelial cancer, happens. But that will be worked on and hopefully we'll have answers to that soon. The texturing is a problem. That's one aspect that we can help. We can limit the number of texture devices being used. And in Europe they're off the market. In many places around the world, they're off the market. You can get texture devices in the United States at this point. So in fact, the most routine, traditional way to perform breast augmentation around the world was a smooth round implant. Are you on a journey to healing and wellness but feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where to turn? 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Take the first step towards healing and wellness with Dr. Rob solutions@doctorrobsolutions.myshopify.com the filler saline or silicone was not the factor depends on basically where you were. But the highest used device around the world was a smooth round device had the least amount of complications relative to capture contracture and malposition. In studies to These devices, I would, given the data, now look at a smooth round device, not a textured device. Certainly we look for folks that have preexisting conditions, whether they're autoimmune disorders like lupus, RA Sjogren's, celiac disease, Lichen's sclerosis, anything that would be a tip off that their immune system would be primed to be aggravated by something foreign. If someone had a preexisting cancer condition, now you'd look at that. But these breast cancers, if that was the case, are different than these lymphomas I haven't seen and we haven't recorded cases of this being early. And typically they're associated with a seroma after a period of time, we'll say plus five years. But they can happen after they've been removed, they can happen earlier, they can happen without a seroma. You know, my experience with the lymphoma that I ultimately found and took care of successfully for my patient. And so that brings us to how do we safely, you know, evaluate and monitor these patients as part of my oncology practice and cosmetic practice. When I began practicing in 05 was simply to have a schedule of follow up. And I was always taught whether it see them at a week, a month, three months, six months, a year, there was always a routine follow up. And then after that first year I saw my patients annually. And that was to make sure that whether they were an oncologic patient after reconstruction for breast cancer or they were a cosmetic patient, that I had a idea of what was going on with them over time. And then basically at my 8 to 10 year mark, we were discussing exchange of the device because many of those devices have a rupture rate that increases year over year over year. And certainly in 2005 that was the case. Now devices have more longevity that are being produced now, but it was a half percent per year increase in rupture rate past eight years. So I was always looking to help see on physical exam where there were problems if we needed testing, whether it was a ultrasound, whatever was necessary, we would use that to better characterize both the health of the patient and device from a structural standpoint, when we want to know, it's intact. Obviously the concern for all these different disease processes now as it relates to cancer is how are you recommending to your clients? What is the, you know, best situation given the current status, going through the informed consent process and providing, you know, information and context around all these, as it's an evolving process, that's a challenge for providers and clients who want to have these procedures done, whether it's for oncologic reconstruction or whether it's for cosmetic enhancement, there needs to be a clear discussion and review of their health history, their family health history, potential correlations between the development of these cancers or breast cancer for that matter. There's further research that needs to be done. Recently a paper was published in 2019 about just genetic associations with ALCL, where there are different genetic mutations in different pathways that predispose you alcl. And so as we get further along, you'll you'll hear me go back to all of the time. I use functional genetics and we should leverage genetics whenever possible to provide individualized plans for our patients. And I hope that in the future that is the way we'll be able to address and evaluate potential risks for these cancers developing in patients and put everybody in the best possible position for success. Thanks for joining me today. I hope you found the information and stories shared on this podcast helpful and informative. Remember, taking control of your health and wellness is key to recovery from breast implant illness. If you're looking for additional resources and support, be sure to visit our online store, Dr. Rob's Solutions at drrobsolutions.myshopify.com you'll find a wide range of wellness products and supplements to support your journey to recovery. From specially formulated detox supplements to personalized skincare products, we have everything you need to aid your recommendations recovery. Visit Dr. Rob's Solutions today at drrobssolutions.myshopify.com thank you for listening and we'll be back with another episode soon. Remember, you're not alone in this journey and together we can overcome breast implant illness. Take care.